Concrete fence-post.



A, 0. CUNNINGHAM. CONCRETE FENCE POST. APPLICATION FILED 111113.27, 1909.

952,0?l Patented Mar. 15, 119m UNITE@ SATES FFIQF..

ANDREW O. CUNNINGHAM, OE ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

CONCRETE FENCE-POST.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW O. CUNNING- HAM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Concrete Fence-Posts, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to concrete fence posts and has for its principal objects to simplify the manufacture and reduce the cost thereof.

To this end, it consists principally in forming the concrete in a paper shell which becomes fixed to the concrete and constitutes in effect a part ofthe post.

In the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification, and wherein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fence post embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 3 is a cross section of a shell constituting the mold; Fig. 4: is a longitudinal section and Fig. 5 is a cross section of the upper portion of a hollow post embodying my invention.

The concrete is molded in an outer shell or mold 1 of paper or other similar material. Preferably, this shell or mold is a cylindrical tube consisting of two or more layers or thicknesses of paper, each of which is wound spirally, as is usual in the manufacture of paper tubes. When the concrete 2 is filled into the paper shell or mold l, its small particles fill the small depressions in the inner surface of the mold or shell, as well as the spiral space 3 intervening between the successive folds of the paper strip. By this arrangement, the concrete interlocks mechanically with the mold or shell, so that they become practically inseparable.

In the modification illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, the post is hollow. In this case, a smaller tube of the same character as the mold constitutes the core and is centered with respect to the mold l. The upper end of this tube is plugged by means of a cap piece 5 so as to prevent the concrete entering the interior thereof.

The post is provided with suitable devices for attxing the strands of wire thereto. The

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led February 27, 1909.

Patented Mar. f5, i910.

Serial No. 480,388.

drawing illustrates staples 7, 8 for this purpose. These staples are arranged in pairs, one staple 7 of a pair being close above its mate 8 and parallel therewith. By this arrangement, the wire may be set sidewise between the staples instead of being threaded through them, and the wire may be tied or otherwise kept in place by suitable means.

By reason of the mechanical interlocking of the concrete with the paper mold or shell, said shell is firmly held in place and becomes in effect a part of the post. This is particularly advantageous for the reason that the concrete continues to harden for a period of many weeks after it is formed, and during this time, the shell adds materially to the strength of the post. So, too, the shell is of great value in protecting the concrete from shock, especially during transportation and handling, as the shock is to a large extent absorbed and dissipated by reason of the soft nature of the shell. The duration of the shell may be prolonged by waterproofing or painting it with any suitable coating. In case the shell disintegrates or is removed, the concrete filling remains as a complete post. So, too, it is obvious that the invention is applicable to poles and other similar devices as well as to fence posts. Obviously, the cross sectional shape of the post may be varied at pleasure, and the core may be reinforced in any well known manner. Therefore, I do not wish to be restricted to the exact construction hereinbefore described.

What I claim is:

l. A post comprising a. tube filled in with concrete, said tube consisting of a plurality of layers of helically wound paper, the edges of successive turns of the inner layer of said tube being spaced apart.

2. A post comprising two concentric tubes and a filling of concrete hardened between them, each of said tubes consisting of a plurality of layers of helically wound paper, successive turns of the inner layer of the outer tube and of the outer layer of the inner tube being spaced apart.

3. A post comprising a tubular shell filled in with concrete and having pairs of hori Zontaliy disposed staples projecting theieconcrete between said shells and above the from, said shell consisting of a plurality end of one shell.

of layers of helically Wound papel1 the sue- T TV T cessive turns of one layer being spafied apart. AL DREW' O' CUB LIb GHAM 4. A post comprising two concentric tubu- 4 Htnessesz lar shells of paper, and a plug closing the E JAMES A. CARR,

upper end of J[he inner shell and a illing of J. B. MEGOWN. 

